Atlas Copco invests in UK custom design facility
1 min read
Atlas Copco Compressors has made a major investment in its UK custom design engineering facility based in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. As one of the company's strategically located engineering centres, the UK workshop now plays a major role in the supply of bespoke solutions across the globe.
The end products are modular 'plug and play' packaged solutions, custom built and shipped with all components, such as compressors, air treatment, dryers, filters, air receivers and control systems, on a single base frame for integration with land based or offshore process installations.
Each project is unique and examples of bespoke projects include: a skid-mounted assembly of compressor, blowers and booster for a hydrocracker plant in Russia; a containerised multiple compressor installation operating in the desert environment of the Gulf; a compressor and dryer package for a methanol plant in Trinidad; and a compressor, dryer, pumps and cooler installation on the northern Pacific shore.
The 800m2 workshop area operates two ten tonne overhead cranes and one five tonne unit with a dedicated sunken load bay for road transportation of packaged assemblies. The installation includes a cooling water supply and a permanently installed 1,000 kVA generator to provide power for workshop testing at 50 or 60Hz.
On completion of a custom-engineering project the skid mounted packages (pictured) are transported to UK sites or to overseas operations, normally via Tilbury the closest sea port.
In order to maintain the necessary high level of engineering skills required, the custom design division operates a graduate engineer training scheme. According to custom design UK manager, Paul Frost: "It is important to introduce more youth into the team in order to secure continuity of the way we do things and develop in-house experience for the long-term benefit of the company and the satisfaction of its customers."
